How Channel Seven staff were informed they would be losing their jobs as Nine Entertainment employees await their fate
Television insiders have opened ‘cold’ and ‘brutal’ actions after a week of massive staff cuts and layoffs.
The revolving door continues at Seven News’ Brisbane studios, just days after 150 Seven West Media staff were shown the door.
In a letter to staff, veteran operations manager Craig Dyer has since announced his immediate resignation after more than two decades with the network.
The news comes as Nine Entertainment also announced it would be cutting 200 jobs across Australia.
Mr Dyer’s sudden departure followed forced redundancies at Channel 7’s Mount Coot-Tha studios in Brisbane, including staff overseen by Mr Dyer, the report said. The courier post.
Among those shown the door were two cameramen, a long-serving technical staffer, a news producer and other behind-the-scenes personnel.
One of the cameramen was informed of his dismissal while on assignment.
Halfway through the shoot, the cameraman was told to return to the station, where he was told he was being let go.
A cameraman from Seven News Brisbane was suspended while on assignment. Pictured is Channel 7’s Mount Coot-Tha studios
Popular Brisbane weatherman Paul Burt (pictured) was fired in the layoffs, with staff only finding out through the media
The staff whose jobs were retained were informed of the cuts at a meeting on Wednesday.
An insider described the Brisbane layoffs as “brutal” and “cold”, creating a somber mood in the Mount Coot-Tha studios.
The insider also said that staff only heard about the ousting of popular weatherman Paul Burt from the media, which was not mentioned in internal communications.
Nine Entertainment also announced last week that it would cut 200 jobs across Australia. Concerned employees are still waiting to hear if their jobs are safe.
Only 38 jobs across national television news and current affairs crews are expected to be cut, with ‘Brisbane favourites’ at the channel likely to avoid the latest wave of redundancies.
The remainder of the job losses are expected to impact digital and head office functions.
There have been calls for the highest earners at Nine Network to take a pay cut, including Love Island presenter Sophie Monk (pictured)
The well-known Nine talents are also in the line of fire, but not from the network bosses.
The announcement of the redundancies led to calls on social media for Nine’s top earners to take a pay cut or face redundancy so that other jobs within the network can be preserved.
Top earners include Today host Karl Stefanovic, who reportedly makes $1.5 million annually.
Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk has also come under scrutiny for her high earnings, which are around $800,000 a year.